Information Handling System with Multi-Purpose NFC Antenna

ABSTRACT

A server information handling system baseboard management controller (BMC) includes an NFC transceiver that communicates NFC signals through an NFC antenna structure. The BMC selectively configures the NFC antenna structure to isolate portions of conductive material for use as an antenna in non-NFC communications, such as wireless local area network communications (WLAN) at 2.4 or 5 GHz or wireless personal area network (WPAN) communications at 2.4 or 60 GHz. In one embodiment, WLAN and WPAN communications are encrypted with a key provided through NFC or other types of wireless communication, such as visible, infrared or ultraviolet light signals.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Information HandlingSystem Secure RF Wireless Communication Management with Out-of-BandEncryption Information Handshake” by inventors Syed S. Ahmed, I-Yu Chen,and Minhazul Islam, Attorney Docket No. DC-104287.01, filed on even dateherewith, describes exemplary methods and systems and is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system wireless communication, and more particularly to aninformation handling system multi-purpose NFC antenna.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Server information handling systems are often situated in rows of racksdisposed in data centers. The data centers provide infrastructureresources that keep the server information handling systems running in areliable manner For example, a data center typically includes cooling,power and network resources that support densely loaded racks of serverinformation handling systems. In addition, data centers typically have astaff of information technology (IT) administrators who maintainphysical information handling system resources, such as by repairing orreplacing information handling systems or their components as needed. ITadministrators have physical access to server information handlingsystems and also manage some processing aspects of server informationhandling systems through a network-interfaced baseboard managementcontroller (BMC) or similar management device. For example, a BMC allowsIT administrators to remote start and shut down a server informationhandling system, to update firmware of components, to patch software,and to perform other management and maintenance functions.

Although IT administrators have physical access to server informationhandling systems and perform management functions with access to BMCs,IT administrators often do not have access to applications running onserver information handling systems or data stored by the applications.Generally, applications and data supported by server informationhandling systems are managed with secured access separate from that usedby IT administrators for management functions. In some data centers,server information handling systems are allocated for use by differententities who manage the applications and data separately from the ITadministrators. Indeed, by running virtual machines that allocateresources to processing functions in a dynamic manner, the same physicalprocessing resources can have sensitive data from several differententities securely accessible by only IT administrators of each entity.In essence, the modern data center is bifurcated between managementfunctions that keep physical resources running and user functions thatuse the physical resources to perform functions in support of end users,such as enterprises.

Generally, server information handling systems have management functionsperformed with communications sent by wired communication interfaces,such as Ethernet. Some server information handling systems and BMCsinclude wireless communication, such as a wireless local area network(WLAN) or wireless personal area network (WPAN, i.e., Bluetooth) so ITadministrators can communicate locally with the server informationhandling system using wireless signals. In many instances, data centersand enterprises prohibit the use of wireless communication to and fromserver information handling systems for security reasons. For instance,wireless communication signals may be sniffed by malicious attackers andused to aid attacks on physical and/or virtual server informationhandling system resources. Wireless communication is also not apractical solution in many data center environments where densely packedracks of server information handling systems would have difficultycoordinating wireless channels and protocols. Further, implementing aWLAN or WPAN chip and antenna in the restricted physical space availableat a BMC presents a design challenge for server information handlingsystem manufacturers.

One wireless communication alternative to WLAN and WPAN communicationsis near field communications (NFC). NFC operates at a relatively lowfrequency (13.56 MHz versus 2.4 and 5 GHz for WLAN and WPAN) over arelatively short range, generally measured in centimeters instead ofmeters. NFC transmits information with opposing inductors that detect amagnetic field related to current flow. A typical NFC antenna is a loopof conductive material that generates a magnetic field to induce acurrent in an opposing loop of conductive material. The current ismeasured at the opposing loop to determine information signals. NFC isan acceptable wireless communication medium for most server data centersbecause of its limited range, however, NFC often has limited usefulnessdue to its relatively low bandwidth. A typical NFC device ends one tagat a time with a typical tag size measure in bytes. Sending largeramounts of data through NFC generally requires the end user to sendmultiple tags while holding the sending device in close proximity to thereceiving device. These limitations have impacted the adoption of NFC indata centers so that IT administrators tend to rely instead oncommunications through hardwired interfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which configures anNFC antenna to support wireless communication with WLAN and WPANfrequencies and protocols.

A further need exists for a system and method which configures wirelesscommunications associated with a server information handling system tohave enhanced security.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems to support wirelesscommunications associated with server information handling systems. AnNFC coil antenna selectively has portions of conductive materialisolated that provide an antenna for non-NFC communications, such ascommunications at 2.4, 5 and 60 GHz. A management controller or othermicrocontroller, such as a baseboard management controller (BMC) of aserver information handling system selectively configures the NFCantenna for NFC and non-NFC communications based upon predeterminedconditions, such as the availability of a shared private encryption keycommunicated by NFC before permitting configuration of the NFC antennato accept non-NFC communications. For example, an NFC communicationprovides user credentials to the BMC and, if the user is authenticated,then the BMC will provide the encryption keys, SSID and SSID passwordback to the user by NFC so that the user's device connects with the key,SSID and SSID password through a wireless interface, such as WLAN.

More specifically, a server information handling system processesinformation with instructions executed by a processor and stored inmemory. A BMC manages the server information handling system, such as byproviding remote power up and power down. The BMC or othermicrocontroller interfaces with an NFC transceiver and a wirelessnetwork interface card (WNIC) that supports WLAN and WPANcommunications. Both the NFC transceiver and the WNIC interface througha multiplexor with the NFC antenna coil. The BMC commands themultiplexor to interface the NFC transceiver with the NFC coil antennawhen NFC communications are desired and to interface with the WNIC whennon-NFC communications are desired, such as WLAN or WPAN communications.When the WNIC is interfaced with the NFC communication coil, a switchdisposed in the NFC communication coil opens to isolated a portion ofthe NFC communication coil's conductive material to provide an RFantenna. A matching circuit associated with each of the NFC and WNICtransceivers matches the conductive material to ensure proper antennaresonance. In one embodiment, the BMC defaults to the use of the NFCantenna and prohibits configuration of the NFC antenna coil for non-NFCcommunications unless authentication and exchange of an encryption keyis shared with an opposing device, such as with an NFC communication.For example, authentication may be required by NFC as set forth in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/038,128, entitled “Secure Near FieldCommunication Server Information Handling System Support” incorporatedherein as if fully set forth. In another embodiment, the key is sent byother wireless communications including non-RF communications, such asvisible light illumination, infrared illumination or ultravioletillumination. In one alternative embodiment, for added security reasons,key exchanges occur over the non-RF medium while devices arecommunicating over the RF medium so that, after an initial hand shakethe encryption protocol and keys dynamically change during theestablished RF link with the sideband non-RF medium, such as IR.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that anNFC antenna selectively reconfigures to support communications withfrequencies and protocols that support WLAN and/or WPAN communications.Sharing the NFC antenna structure to support WLAN and/or WPAN provides amore efficient use of space in the server information handling system,such as the BMC portion, so that multiple wireless communicationprotocols are available within a given footprint. Switchingcommunications between NFC and other protocols allows transfer of uniqueprivate keys by the shorter range and smaller bandwidth of NFC so thatwireless signals having greater potential range have a more secureencryption. Other types of transfer media to establish a private key foruse with wireless communication may also be used separately or incombination with NFC communications, such as infrared of ultravioletlight flashes, a standalone QR code or a QR code depicted at anydisplay, or a unique set of illuminated diagnostic LEDs captured by acamera or manually input by an end user. In one example embodiment, theNFC antenna is segmented to provide directional control of WLAN and WPANsignals towards the location at which an NFC device is located so thatreduced transmission power may be used, thereby decreasing the risk ofmalicious interception without impacting reception by the intendeddevice, such as a smartphone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts a server information handling system having securewireless communication supported by a configurable antenna structure;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a system for secure wirelesscommunication supported by a configurable antenna structure;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of a process for establishing a securewireless communication with a configurable antenna structure;

FIG. 4 depicts a circuit block diagram of a wireless communicationsystem to support secure wireless communication with a configurableantenna structure; and

FIG. 5 depicts an example embodiment of an NFC antenna structureconfigured to support multiple wireless frequency bands for WLAN andWPAN communications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A server information handling system baseboard management controllerselectively configures an antenna structure to communicate managementinformation with a portable information handling system by NFC or bysecure WLAN and/or WPAN communications. For purposes of this disclosure,an information handling system may include any instrumentality oraggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process,transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display,manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form ofinformation, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, orother purposes. For example, an information handling system may be apersonal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitabledevice and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, andprice. The information handling system may include random access memory(RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processingunit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or othertypes of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the informationhandling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more networkports for communicating with external devices as well as various inputand output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a videodisplay. The information handling system may also include one or morebuses operable to transmit communications between the various hardwarecomponents.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a server information handling system 10 isdepicted having secure wireless communication supported by aconfigurable antenna structure. In the example embodiment of FIG. 1,plural server information handling systems 10 are disposed slots 12 of arack 14. Each server information handling system 10 interfaces with achassis management controller (CMC) 16 of rack 14, which managesinfrastructure to maintain operations of the server information handlingsystems 10, such as by providing power from power supplies 18, thermalcontrol with a cooling module 20, and communications through anInput/Output module 22, such as Ethernet communications supported by aswitch interfaced with an external network. Each server informationhandling system 10 has a front bezel 24 that supports basic input andoutput devices, such as diagnostic LEDs 26 that display maintenance andother codes and a control panel 28 that presents status information andaccepts manual inputs. Each server information handling system 10assembles on a chassis 30 that supports processing components disposedin a slot 12. For example, a motherboard 32 interfaces one or morecentral processing units (CPUs) 34 with random access memory (RAM) 36 toexecute instructions that process information, such as in response toclient information handling systems interfaced through a network. A harddisk drive 38 and solid state drive 40 provide persistent storage ofinformation accessible by CPUs 34. A chipset 42 includes processors andfirmware stored in flash memory that coordinates the interaction betweenprocessing components of server information handling system 10. Networkinterface cards 44 provide an interface to communicate with networks,such as a wired-Ethernet local area network available through I/O module22.

Server information handling systems 10 are managed by a baseboardmanagement controller (BMC) 46, which provides an out-of-band networkinterface to support remote management, such as remote power-up, remotepower down, and remote software and firmware updates. Administratorsalso interface directly with BMC 46 at bezel 24 to perform managementfunctions, such as initiating upgrades and configuring network settings.Administrators may input information manually through control panel 28,visually observe diagnostic codes displayed by LEDs 26, or may interfaceusing a portable information handling system 48 that communicatesthrough a wireless communication medium compatible with BMC 46. In theexample embodiment, BMC 46 supports wireless communication through aNear Field Communication (NFC) module 50 or through a wireless networkinterface card (WNIC) 52 that support wireless local area network (WLAN)protocols, such as 802.11 b, g, n or ac, and/or wireless personal areanetwork (WPAN) protocols, such as Bluetooth at 2.4 GHz or 802.11ad at 60GHz. To interact wirelessly with BMC 46, portable information handlingsystem 48, such as a smartphone or tablet, executes an application 54with a CPU 34 and RAM 36 that establishes communication using anintegrated NFC device 50 or WNIC 52 and presents an interface for thecommunication at a display 56.

Although WNIC 52 can support WLAN and even WPAN communications atdistance of 100 yards or more, administrators in a typical data centertypically prefer any wireless communications to have a limited range.Generally, administrators will perform remote interactions through wirednetwork resources, such as an Ethernet and/or I2C management networkinterface, and will use wireless communications directly with a BMC whenin visual contact with the target server information handling system 10.Another reason for restricting the range of wireless communications witha BMC 46 is to restrict the range at which the transmissions may beintercepted and at which an unauthorized individual might attempt tocontact the BMC. In order to maintain secure wireless communicationsbetween portable information handling system 48 and BMC 46, a securitymodule 58 associated with BMC 46, such as a firmware module executing onBMC 46, ensures that communications are encrypted in a secure manner,such as with a randomly generated private key for one time use. In oneembodiment, security module 58 limits unencrypted wirelesscommunications to a short range by selectively configuring an antennastructure 60 to communicate by either NFC or higher frequency radiosignals used for WLAN and WPAN communications.

Security module 58 maintains secure communications by exchanging anencryption key with application 54 by a first wireless communicationmedium and then applying the encryption key to encrypt communications ina second wireless communication medium. The first wireless communicationmedium has a restricted range that makes unlikely a detection of the keyby an unauthorized individual. For example, the key is presented withoptical medium and captured by a camera 62 of portable informationhandling system 48. The optical medium may include sequential flashingof LEDs 26, flashing of LEDs 26 with color variations, flashing ofinfrared or ultraviolet lights integrated in server information handlingsystem 10, or flashing of infrared or ultraviolet lights from anothersource in the data center. As another example of an optical medium, thekey is presented at control panel 28 as text or a bar code, such as a QRcode, that camera 62 captures and application 54 reads to determine theencryption key. Another wireless medium is an NFC communication to sendthe encryption key through antenna structure 60. NFC has a restrictedrange generally measured in centimeters that is unlikely to beintercepted by an unauthorized individual. Once security module 58 hasexchanged an encryption key with application 54, security module 58re-configures antenna structure 60 to support communication by WNIC 52,such as in WLAN or WPAN frequency bands and protocols. Requiringauthentication before allowing WLAN or WPAN antenna structures toconfigure reduces the risk of unauthorized WLAN or WPAN communications;however, in some embodiments the antenna structure may re-configurewithout NFC authentication performed as a prerequisite. WLAN and WPANprotocols provide greater range and bandwidth to support more rapidcommunications of management information. Encryption of the WLAN andWPAN communications reduces the risk of unauthorized access tomanagement information communicated with BMC 46 while providingincreased data transfer rates that allow administrators to more rapidlyperform data transfers.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts a system for securewireless communication supported by a configurable antenna structure 60.In the example embodiment, security module 58 includes a random numbergenerator 64 that generates a random number key for each BMC 46 WLAN orWPAN communication. Security module 58 sends the key to a first wirelesscommunication medium device to communicate the key to portableinformation handling system 48 application 54. In the exampleembodiment, security module 58 sends the key in response to an NFCcommunication request through NFC device 58 by including the key in anNFC communication or, alternatively, by sending the key through anillumination device 66, such as visual light signals of diagnostic LEDs,text at a display panel, a QR code at a display panel, an infraredillumination or an ultraviolet illumination. For example, anadministrator enters login information by NFC to BMC 46 in order toinitiate presentation of the key by illumination device 66. Inalternative embodiments, the encryption key is requested and sent by NFCcommunication or illuminated at desired times by illumination device 66without a request. In such an embodiment, the encryption key is tosecure information sent by wireless signals without regard toauthorization of the administrator for access to BMC 46 functions.

Once the administrator's application has the security key, securitymodule 58 authorizes an antenna controller 70 to configure antennastructure 60 to communicate by WLAN or WPAN frequency bands andprotocols. Antenna controller 70 interacts with antenna structure 60 tore-configure conductive material used for NFC signal transfer into aconfiguration that supports conventional RF signals in WLAN and WPANfrequency bands. By restricting antenna structure 60 in an NFCconfiguration until an encryption key is established, security module 58effectively prevents communication with longer range wireless RF signalsso that BMC 46 is less susceptible to unauthorized eavesdropping or hackattacks.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts a process forestablishing a secure wireless communication with a configurable antennastructure. The process starts at step 72 with an exchange of anencryption key between a management controller and portable informationhandling system, such as with a visible light signal or NFCcommunication. At step 74, authorization is provided for modification ofthe antenna structure to support wireless communication using theencryption key, such as WLAN or WPAN communications that provideimproved bandwidth for more rapid communication of managementinformation. In one embodiment, the antenna structure defaults to an NFCconfiguration and re-configures to a WLAN or WPAN configuration for alimited time period following successful communication of the encryptionkey so that a randomly-generated key is required to continuecommunications after the time period. By defaulting to an NFCconfiguration, antenna structure essentially prevents unauthorizedattacks in WLAN and WPAN frequency bands. At step 76, managementinformation is communicated between the WNICs of BMC 46 and portableinformation handling system 48 in an encrypted format using theencryption key.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a circuit block diagram depicts a wirelesscommunication system to support secure wireless communication with aconfigurable antenna structure. BMC 46 manages communication ofmanagement information by wireless signals by selectively configuring anNFC coil antenna 82 to provide an isolated segment 84 tuned forcommunication in a WLAN WiFi or WPAN BlueTooth frequency band, such as2.4 GHz. BMC 46 defaults NFC coil antenna 82 in an NFC configurationthat provides a current path from NFC transceiver 50 through an activematching network 86 and RF MUX 78 then out through active matchingnetwork 86 to NFC transceiver 50. NFC transceiver 50 sends NFCcommunication signals at 13.56 MHz by altering current through theconductive NFC coil antenna to generate magnetic fields read by a nearbyNFC antenna through near field effects. In one embodiment, BMC 46 sendsa randomly-generated encryption key by an NFC signal through NFCtransceiver 50 in response to authorized login information, such as avalid username and password, provided from a portable informationhandling system through an NFC communication.

Once BMC 46 has provided the encryption key through an NFCcommunication, BMC 46 commands RF MUX 78 to accept inputs fromWiFi/Bluetooth transceiver 52 instead of from NFC transceiver 50 so thatBMC 46 can exchange management information with WLAN and/or WPANcommunications that provide increased bandwidth relative to NFCcommunications. BMC 46 reconfigures NFC coil antenna 82 to send WLANand/or WPAN wireless signals by opening RF switch 80 to terminatecurrent flow. In one embodiment, plural RF switches may be included toprovide plural antenna lengths or configurations. Once WLAN and/or WPANcommunications are complete, such as after a password validity timeout,BMC 46 defaults back to an NFC communication configuration by commandingRF Mux 78 to accept inputs from NFC transceiver 50 instead ofWiFi/BlueTooth transceiver 52 and by closing RF switch 80 to permitcurrent to flow through NFC coil antenna 82. Matching networks 86associated with each transceiver 50 and 52 match the impedance of theconfigured antenna to the transmitting frequency so that the antennaresonates efficiently. In one embodiment, active matching networks 86are used to adapt to changes in the antenna impedance over time. Activematching adjusts for changes in the electrical characteristics ofswitches and multiplexor devices over time that might otherwise impactsignal propagation. Active matching uses a secondary antenna as depictedin FIG. 4 to connect to the primary antenna, the analyzes parameterslike signal strength, signal power, signal to noise ratio to change theactive matching controller to improve signal quality, such as by moreaccurately matching the impedance. In one embodiment, a sweep of suchparameters helps to adjust for environmental noise.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an example embodiment depicts an NFC antennastructure configured to support multiple wireless frequency bands forWLAN and WPAN communications. A plurality of RF switches 80 are disposedat different points of NFC coil 82 to selectively open and close forisolating portions of conductive wire of NFC coil 82 to establish pluralRF transmitter portions for communicating beyond near field effects. Forexample, a set of four RF switches 80 open to provide two parallelisolated conductive portions that define a planar array transmitter 88.In the center of NFC coil 82 a pair of RF switches 90 isolate a shorterportion of conductive material to support a 60 GHz WPAN antenna. Anotherset of RF switches defines a planar array antenna 92 for Bluetoothcommunications. Frequency bands for supporting communication atdifferent protocols may be tuned based upon the length of conductiveportions that are isolated and tuned by appropriate matching circuits.The RF switches may provide access at one end of each isolated conductorfor a transceiver interface. In one embodiment, the planar array ofplural isolated conductive portions may form a phased array antennastructure that directs RF signals along the same orientation that theend user has for interfacing with NFC. In this way, the transmitter mayuse a lower power setting with the directed RF signals so that reducedemissions are present to cause interference or that are available forsnooping by unauthorized users.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server information handling system comprising:a chassis; a processor disposed in the chassis and operable to executeinstructions that process information; memory disposed in the chassisand interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store theinstructions and information; a management controller disposed in thechassis and operable to manage operation of the processor; and awireless communication module disposed in the chassis and interfacedwith the management controller, the wireless communication moduleoperable to coordinate near field communication (NFC) and radiofrequency (RF) communication through a common antenna structure byselectively isolating at least a portion of the antenna structure. 2.The server information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: anantenna structure interfaced with the management controller, the antennastructure having a coil configured to generate NFC signals with currentpassed through the coil; and an antenna controller that commandsselective isolation of the at least a portion of the antenna structurein response to a predetermined condition.
 3. The system of claim 2wherein the at least a portion of the antenna structure comprises alength sized to transmit RF signals at substantially 2.45 GHz.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3 further comprising a matching circuit interfaced withthe at least a portion of the antenna structure, the matching circuitproviding resonance for the substantially 2.45 GHz RF signal at the atleast a portion of the antenna structure.
 5. The system of claim 4wherein the matching circuit comprises an active matching circuit thatadapts the at least a portion of the antenna structure to a desiredimpedance as the impedance changes over time.
 6. The system of claim 2wherein the RF communication is wireless local area networkcommunication.
 7. The system of claim 2 wherein the RF communication isBluetooth communication.
 8. The system of claim 2 further comprising: amultiplexor coupled at one end of the at least a portion of the antennastructure to selectively interface a wireless networking transceiver oran NFC transceiver with the antenna structure; and a switch disposed atan opposing end of the at least a portion of the antenna structure toselectively interface with a remaining portion of the antenna structure;wherein the antenna controller interfaces the wireless networkingtransceiver and opens the switch to communicate RF signals through theat least a portion of the antenna structure.
 9. The system of claim 2wherein the predetermined condition comprises a private key sent by NFCcommunications for encrypting RF communications.
 10. A method forcommunicating wirelessly between first and second information handlingsystems, the method comprising: sending first wireless signals from anantenna structure of the first information handling system by passingcurrent through the antenna structure in a coil configuration; detectinga predetermined condition at the first information handling system; andin response to the predetermined condition, sending second wirelesssignals from the antenna structure of the first information handlingsystem by isolating at least a portion of the antenna structure in anon-coil configuration.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:establishing the coil configuration by closing a switch disposed along alength of the coil; and establishing the non-coil configuration byopening the switch to interrupt current flow through the coil.
 12. Themethod of claim 11 wherein: sending first wireless signals furthercomprises interfacing an NFC transceiver with the antenna structure inthe coil configuration; and sending second wireless signals furthercomprises interfacing a wireless networking transceiver with the antennastructure.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the non-coil configurationcomprises a length of conductive material configured to communicatesubstantially a 2.4 GHz RF signal.
 14. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising adapting the non-coil configuration impedance with a matchingcircuit to resonate at a predetermined RF wireless signal frequency. 15.The method of claim 10 wherein the sending second wireless signalsfurther comprises: isolating plural portions of the antenna structure todefine plural non-coil configurations; and coordinating wireless signalsof a wireless networking transceiver to direct the wireless signals withthe plural portions to emit in a predetermined pattern.
 16. The methodof claim 15 wherein the predetermined condition comprises a securitycode provided by NFC communication from the second information handlingsystem to the antenna structure in the coil configuration.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the wireless transceiver precludes wirelessnetworking RF signals unless the security code is provided by NFCcommunication.
 18. A server BMC antenna structure comprising: aconductive wire formed as a coil; a switch disposed along the length ofcoil, the switch operable to close so that current passes along theentire coil length and to open so that current introduced at an inputterminates at a predetermined distance of the conductive wire; amultiplexor interfaced with the input to selectively interface an NFCtransceiver with the input or a wireless networking transceiver with theinput; and an antenna controller interfaced with the switch and themultiplexor, the antenna controller operable to interface the NFCtransceiver and close the switch to support NFC communications, theantenna controller to interface the wireless networking transceiver andopen the switch to support wireless networking communications.
 19. Theserver BMC antenna structure of claim 18 further comprising one or moreadaptive matching circuits that adjust impedance of the conductive wireto match the impedance of the wireless networking transceiver.
 20. Theserver BMC antenna structure of claim 18 wherein the antenna controllerprecludes communication by the wireless networking transceiver unlessuser authentication is first provided by an NFC communication.